Coles gift card offers

[NoName]

Morally yes, but they don't have a value unless activated (I think this is stated on the card?), so hopefully not. I plan to start hoarding these, and others, for future promos. If you can't beat 'em.....

This was my take too. Annoyed when they told me what had occurred though. They told me they were going to refuse to activate the cards when brought back in but not sure how that could be done. Anyway, like you I will hoard some for next time.

 

[NoName]

I think restocking is unlikely. Seems to me there's a reason for this promo.

Went to another couple of shops at lunch with no luck however a couple did say they would receive more stock but could not (would not??) tell me when. Time will tell if this actually occurs.

 

[TripleB]

Taking the unactivated cards out of the shop is definitely larceny (theft).

 

[oz_mark]

Went to another couple of shops at lunch with no luck however a couple did say they would receive more stock but could not (would not??) tell me when. Time will tell if this actually occurs.

From what I've been told they use a couple of third party suppliers, so the cards don't go through their normal supply chains. The supplier turns up when they turn up...

 

[twiningb]

I went into my local Coles (Bulleen VIC) at 07:01 (when they opened) and they had only a handful of $50s and nothing bigger.

 

[glasszon]

Managed to buy 10 $100 cards, wanted to buy more but the cashier stopped me at 5 and I had to get my +1 to go back just to get the other 5.

There's tons left at my local coles, tempted to rock up again this evening, surely they won't notice me right?

 

[Dr Ralph]

That would be theft right?

I strongly caution people not to take these or any other item from the store without paying. Its most defintely theft.

 

[JessicaTam]

The more interesting thing is on the last page: 10% off Coles Gift MasterCard, up to five per person.

Thanks for the head's up. I was very happy to get a discount on my council rates this arvo.

 

[TripleB]

Went back to store number 1 where i got 5x$100 at 7am this morning.

The had 12x $50 left. I bought a trolley load of groceries and 5x$50. Put that in the car. Then went straight back, got a carton of milk and took 7x$50 (all that was left) off the shelf. There was only 1 checkout open - it was the guy who had served me about 3 minutes previously. He counted the cards - said he could only sell me 5 and put the extra 2 on a pile of identical cards behind the counter which had obviously been taken off others violating the 5 per person condition.

I'll go for a walk at 630am tomorrow morning to see if I can pick up 5 more. Hopefully some of the ones in the pile were $100 cards.

p.s. Whilst the $50 cards have a miniscule saving - I have a brand new mastercard and would love to bring forward next month's spending to this month to hit the minimum spend for the signup bonus points in the first month. Hitting the minimum spend in month 1 (as opposed to month 2 which would be my normal spending pattern) will hopefully mean the points post a month earlier and I can cancel it a month sooner. This is a good way to do that at no cost.

 

[kyle]

Went back to store number 1 where i got 5x$100 at 7am this morning.

The had 12x $50 left. I bought a trolley load of groceries and 5x$50. Put that in the car. Then went straight back, got a carton of milk and took 7x$50 (all that was left) off the shelf. There was only 1 checkout open - it was the guy who had served me about 3 minutes previously. He counted the cards - said he could only sell me 5 and put the extra 2 on a pile of identical cards behind the counter which had obviously been taken off others violating the 5 per person condition.

I'll go for a walk at 630am tomorrow morning to see if I can pick up 5 more. Hopefully some of the ones in the pile were $100 cards.

p.s. Whilst the $50 cards have a miniscule saving - I have a brand new mastercard and would love to bring forward next month's spending to this month to hit the minimum spend for the signup bonus points in the first month. Hitting the minimum spend in month 1 (as opposed to month 2 which would be my normal spending pattern) will hopefully mean the points post a month earlier and I can cancel it a month sooner. This is a good way to do that at no cost.

Were you just testing the computer system to see if you could buy 7, or deliberately wanting to flout the 5 card limit?

 

[andye]

Having redeemed half a dozen at the Canberra online store earlier, I have had a run of rejections (have checked cards fully loaded and activated)

 

[kyle]

Having redeemed half a dozen at the Canberra online store earlier, I have had a run of rejections (have checked cards fully loaded and activated)

Lol Canberra online store. Can't be the mint!

 

[maccaisking]

Taking the unactivated cards out of the shop is definitely larceny (theft).

Not condoning the removal of cards, but I believe 'no intention to return the goods' is an element which must be proven for theft?

 

[TripleB]

Not condoning the removal of cards, but I believe 'no intention to return the goods' is an element which must be proven for theft?

You're quite right - it's one of the mental elements which must be proved.

However, here's the practical problem ... say you get caught by a Coles employee as you walk out the store with a pocket full of unactivated $250 cards on Tuesday night. They will call the police. The police will arrest you. Take you down the station. Interview you. Charge you with larceny and then issue you a court attendance notice for a judge to work it out.

You are then going to have to turn up to the zoo which is the local court and argue to a busy magistrate with a full list of people with serious issues (often on the fringes of society) with an argument and exchange with the judge which goes something like:

You: Your Honour, I genuinely was going to come back the next morning and pay for them. They were going on sale the next morning and I could save 10% by coming back and paying for them then. Here's the copy of the catalogue to prove what I was up to

Judge: So you took them with the intention of coming back the next morning to pay for them because they would be cheaper

You: Yes. They had this special on.

Judge: Why didn't you just come back the next morning and get them?

You: Because I didn't want someone else to beat me to them and not be able to buy them.

Judge: I see

That's not an argument you want to run in a busy local court list when you have been caught with a pocket full of goods that you haven't paid for as you leave a supermarket. The judge is going to have absolutely no sympathy for you. Every man and his dog tries the 'no intention to permanently deprive' element on and the local court magistrates are generally pretty disdainful of it.

 

[PLANT]

Unless your a teenager in QLD.... not even slap on wrist.... just BAIL BAIL..... off you go..... see you next time.

 

[Happy Dude]

Despite @TripleB's wost case scenario, I highly doubt anyone would bother pressing charges for swiping something with zero value. Perhaps it's a bit like "stealing" domain names. But I did a quick google and found that some gift cards can be 'hacked' (and replaced on the shelf leaving the unsuspecting victim loading up a card someone already has the details to) but not these ones as they're sealed. I wouldn't do a pocket full either, just one every so often, as these offers don't come round often.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Despite @TripleB's wost case scenario, I highly doubt anyone would bother pressing charges for swiping something with zero value.

You can doubt it all you like, but I have seen the NSW Police issue a Penalty Notice for this offence (which is at their discretion). The fine is $300. I have also seen the matter prosecuted in NSW Courts. I recall the Magistrate indicating that although the item might have $0 value until activated, it still cost someone money to produce and replace the item.

 

[kyle]

Despite @TripleB's wost case scenario, I highly doubt anyone would bother pressing charges for swiping something with zero value. Perhaps it's a bit like "stealing" domain names. But I did a quick google and found that some gift cards can be 'hacked' (and replaced on the shelf leaving the unsuspecting victim loading up a card someone already has the details to) but not these ones as they're sealed. I wouldn't do a pocket full either, just one every so often, as these offers don't come round often.

That actually happened to me once and so I lost $105. Now I check each card carefully.

 

[Happy Dude]

@Dr Ralph Thanks and good to know. My kids take GCs regularly and use them in pretend shopkeeper games. Not the sealed up ones though, usually ones that have designs they like. I've never given it a moments thought.

 

[Rich]

How are guys paying for the cards? Credit cards often treat a gift card as a cash advance, though to perhaps answer my own question if it says Coles how would they know?